This is a Christian blog dealing with various issues. “Discernment is not simply a matter of telling the difference between what is right and wrong; rather it is the difference between right and almost right.” -Charles Spurgeon. Scripture is my authority for all things regarding to life and godliness. 2 Cor. 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Belief in an old earth creates enormous theological problems for Christians. There is an obvious tension with a straightforward reading of Genesis, as well as the problem of animal death and suffering before Adam’s sin. Nevertheless, Christians who advocate an old earth might argue that these difficulties, though serious, are tolerable as long as one affirms that human death, at least, began with Adam (Romans 5:12-21). This is because logically Christ’s death on the cross can only pay for our sins if human death really is the penalty for sin. And since a just God would not impose the penalty for sin before a sin had actually been committed, human death could not have occurred before Adam’s fall. This may seem obvious since one would naturally conclude this from Genesis, but it is a logical necessity for the Christian faith to be true....But since old-earth Christians have already accepted the premise that Neandertals existed before Adam, this would imply that human death did not begin with Adam, even if he were a real person. Thus, the only thing preventing old-earth Christians from reaching this disastrous theological conclusion is their untenable denial of Neandertals’ humanity. And untenable positions cannot be maintained for very long. In this light, it is not surprising that some professing old-earth Christians have begun to openly claim that Adam never existed....

Thursday, October 29, 2015

They are not “refugees.” They are invaders; soldiers of Allah:What is unfolding is hijra, otherwise known as immigration jihad. It is written in the Quran and is a powerful strategy the Islamic world has used for many centuries to overwhelm nations and assert dominance. We must not allow our culture to be undermined and destroyed by increasing the population of Muslims in the United States. (See here, here, here, and here. See here for a book on the topic by Ann Corcoran.)

Terrorists will be among them: The FBI has stated this will be inevitable – that terrorists will slip through. It has already been documented in Europe. We cannot afford to import terrorists. Not a single one. (See here, here, here, and here.)The number we admit will increase exponentially in a year or two...

Support for sharia law:More than half of Muslims in America want sharia law and 25% support violence against Americans who commit blasphemy against their religion and their prophet. The more Muslims we admit, the higher those already staggeringly high numbers will likely go.Sharia law conflicts with our Constitution. It makes no sense to import people who embrace an oppressive legal code that is not in line with our laws and our values, nor is it in our best interests to admit (more) people who feel justified in committing violent acts against Americans. (See here,here, here, and here.)Lack of assimilation: Muslims in Western countries often form their own enclaves and do not assimilate. This is another way they assert supremacy and maintain Islamic values (such as they are) instead of adopting the values of the host country. It also increases the risk of developing no-go zones. It is not in our interest to admit people who prefer to live in insular communities, living life as if still in their native country. Assimilation is necessary to maintain our values and our identity as a nation. (See here, here, here, and here.)There will be increased proliferation of mosques and Islamic schools:The more Muslims we admit, the more mosques and Islamic schools that will be built. More than 80% of mosques in the United States teach jihad and/or advance the idea of sharia law while many Islamic schools indoctrinate their students to distain non-believers. We cannot afford to have more Islamic institutions that teach hate and incite members to violence. In addition, mosques also double as military installations when the time is ripe. (See here, here, here, here, and here.)

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Soft, religious words often hide a hard heart, but God will reveal in time the reality of such things. People might be able to fool some people for a while, but God will not be mocked: He will bring to light what was done in darkness. Bad fruit is not easy to hide, nor good fruit easy to fake, for very long.

Matthew 15:8-98 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

Psalms 55:21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

Proverbs 26:24-26 24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; 25 when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; 26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.Rom 16:18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

It must be admitted by all that the doctrines of the grace of God are a related body of truth, each part of which harmonizes perfectly with each and every other part. There must be no contradictions between the various doctrines and no confusion as to their meanings, for God is the God of order and not of confusion.

~ Arthur W. Pink

Exactly. If it's biblical truth, it's to be held to without hesitation or compromise as if it's merely an opinion or theory. Doctrinal error is sin which is why we need the Holy Spirit and the Word to continually correct us and renew our minds as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is, after all, King.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Science—in the sense of genuine knowledge and understanding—is not the real reason many scholarly Christians accept the doctrine of an old earth. Rather, they accept this doctrine for the same reason that laypeople do: They trust the secular scientific community’s conclusions—the majority consensus—on the subject...

Secular scientists may be quite knowledgeable in their specialty fields, and many people naively assume that claims about an old age of the earth couldn’t possibly be motivated by anything other than a simple desire for truth. However, it’s important to recognize the human mind’s natural hostility toward the things of God. Without faith in Christ, we are characterized by “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7) and described as those who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

If secular scientists are “suppressing the truth” when it comes to the weightier issue of God’s existence, why would Christians unquestioningly accept their claims about Earth’s history?

Most "scientists" presume an old age of the Earth, therefore they do not start with the question of "How old is the earth?" but rather "How many millions of years old is the earth?". This proves their own presuppositions and disregard for Truth.

1Co 15:21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 1Co 15:24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Be steadfast in biblical truth, unwavering. The truth begins at the Beginning in Genesis (reference to Adam which confirms the historicity of Gen. 2-3) all the way through Salvation and on to the End. Denying any part is being unfaithful and wavering, movable, and cowardly.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

The politically correct Glamour Magazine has reportedly waived the one defining requirement of candidates for its “Woman of the Year” honor—a double X chromosome—in conferring the title for 2015 on crossdresser Bruce Jenner, a move many women are finding insulting.

The magazine is expected to formally announce its choice of Jenner as woman of the year, along with actress Reese Witherspoon, on November 3.

Criticisms are already piling up from women who find the choice of Jenner to be demeaning, and are falling into two main camps. First, out of all the real women in the world, could Glamour not find one worthy of the title of Woman of the Year without needing to fish in the male pool of boys dressing as girls?

Second, what in the world has Jenner done in the past year—other than get a makeover—that qualifies him as a model for achieving woman around the world?

In a stinging commentary, Nicole Russell writes that by choosing Jenner as woman of the year, “Glamour endorses the idea that men are better at being women than we are.”

Nowhere but in the Scripture of truth can we learn what is the real condition of the natural man. There his case is diagnosed with unerring precision by the divine Physician. Many are the terms used therein by the Holy Spirit to describe the solemn and direful state to which the fall has reduced every descendant of Adam; and among them probably none is more pointed and awesome than is the term lost. How dismal is its sound! How much is summed up in that single word!

Friday, October 23, 2015

Yes, exactly what I've been saying. Western Muslims won't make it in Muslim countries b/c their worldview is totally different. He will be the victim of Islam. Islam is intolerant of all other religions.

In his scholarship statement, Mohamed expressed his love for the Qatari capital of Doha as a “modern” city, observing that “Qatar is in the Arab world, but it also feels like Texas. It’s like Texas in Qatar.”

Yet his new country of residence is not free of religion-driven hate.

“Qatar has harsh Shariah law - stoning for apostasy, lashing for alcohol, death penalty for homosexuality - and is an absolute monarchy without even a shred of democracy,” Tim Furnish, who holds a doctorate in Islamic Studies and served as an Arabic linguist in the U.S. Army, toldFoxNews.com. “The analogy between Texas and Qatar is the heat. Ahmed should be careful about what he wishes for.”

Jesus Christ deserves the best men to preach His gospel, and not the empty-headed and the shiftless. - SpurgeonI agree. His standard is high and He is worthy of so much more than half-hearted hirelings.Jas 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Mal 2:1 "And now, O priests, this command is for you.
Mal 2:2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.
Mal 2:3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it.

Jer 23:1 "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD.

1Ti 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
1Ti 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

https://www.exponential.org/2016east/Emergent's Exponential Conference is meeting again in 2016. So the Emergent Exponential East 2016 is ramping up, trying to get people motivated to register for next year's conference.Their purpose:

"Becoming Five continues a conversation started in our 2015 theme Spark: Igniting a Culture of Multiplication. Think of Becoming Five as a sequel of sorts that drills down into more detail focusing on how we can each play our part in moving the needle on church multiplication. At Exponential 2016, we’ll roll up our sleeves and look practically at how leaders create healthy multiplication cultures: How do we confront and embrace the tensions that come as we’re trying to establish and develop healthy and powerfully aligned cultures that take churches from where they are to what we’re calling Level 5 multiplying churches."Notice what's missing: Christ Jesus the Lord. In their whole description of their purpose for this conference, Christ is left out.Of course this isn't biblical, but ironically, it's smacks of the factory-pumped out, mega-church, institutional program/methodology that the Emergents once-upon-a-time rebelled against. However, money is needed and fame is wanted, so their attempt at being "grass roots" and "organic" didn't last long! However, their leaders and false teaching still are around.

It sounds like this is just another method to get more churches, infested with Emergent and Refomergent and Charismatic nonsense. Yes, what American needs is more churches, right? Wrong. What we need are BIBLICAL churches with truly God-ordained men who won't cower at making biblical, consistent, and bold stands for the Truth and against error in all forms.Names you should be concerned about:Alan Hirsch (Emergent) and Deb Hirsch his wife, author of and expert in sex and sexuality among other things. I highlight this because sex has become a focus of many people, like John Piper (see my article "Why John Piper Should Be Rejected"), Mark Driscoll, and Ed Young Jr.Erwin McManus, pastor of Emergent's Mosaic "church", long time Emergent.Ed Stetzer, long time Emergent friend, also is executive director for SBC's Lifeway publishing company, as well as TBN host and contributing editor for "Christianity" Today magazine.

Jodi Hickerson: "Jodi Hickerson serves as Teaching Pastor and Programming Director for Mission Church in Ventura, California. Jodi and her husband Mike, along with their three daughters, are a part of the team that planted Mission Church in September of 2011, which continues to be the adventure they cannot imagine missing."

Candace Lewis: "Candace is an Ordained Elder from the Florida Annual Conference.Candace is a sought after preacher, leader, coach, consultant and passionate servant of the church."

Jenni Catron: "Jenni is the author of several books including Clout: Discover and Unleash Your God-Given Influence and The 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership. Outreach Magazine has recognized her as one of the thirty emerging influencers reshaping church leadership. A leader who loves “putting feet to vision,” Jenni has served on the executive leadership teams of Menlo Church in Menlo Park, California, and Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee."Cynthia Marshall: "Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer-Human Resources, develops and directs HR programs for AT&T's 240K employees. Her organization implements and administers HR practices to support AT&T's business strategy and diversity programs." No mention about being a Christian, so that leaves us to presume she's there just for the politically correct road of these social justice multiplication techniques. In other words, going to the world for wisdom.

Brian Houston: pastor of Word of Faith's Hillsong Church. He's also pro-Sodomy. Here's another article on Hillsong's acceptance of sodomites in their churches. Hillsong is also where "pastor" Christine Caine and Carl Lentz come from and both of whom John Piper has shared the platform with at Passion conferences.Last but certainly not least:Matt Chandler is the Lead Pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, TX and president of the Acts 29 Network. He is the author of several books, including his latest The Mingling of Souls.

Yes indeed, Matt Chandler the Reformergent Charismatic. He has been an Emergent for years (that's where he got his start), and he's lined up to speak at this Emergent conference again, alongside women pastors and other Emergents. He's been on the heretical TBN three times (some of which he promoted a prophecy about himself given to his friend). He's been working closely with Mark Driscoll for years and just a few years ago took over Driscoll's Emergent "Acts 29" church plant and resource ministry. Remember there is no Acts 29 in Scripture. They're trivializing Scripture by adding another chapter as if they're being cute and clever. They aren't. This new engagement next year only proves Chandler has stayed true to his roots, as well as giving lie to his claim of "complementarianism". Then again, no Charismatic can hold to that view since by nature and foundational doctrine, Charismaticism denies the sole authority of Scripture and it's closed canon. They think God is still speaking today and therefore there is nothing in Scripture that they need to hold to when they've got "God" himself speaking to them and giving new revelations and prophecies.

Monday, October 12, 2015

CP: You wrote about the debate within Exodus International decades back on whether or not they should focus on celibacy or change, with the latter winning out. Would Exodus International have done better to focus on celibacy rather than change?

Chambers: I think if Exodus had simply chosen to be an organization that was going to show up for people, that was going to be present in the lives of the people who were making difficult decisions, if Exodus had remained a place that wasn't about promoting change or promoting marriage or saying this is the one narrative that is best, had it simply just been a place of support, comfort, and encouragement, it would have, it could have lasted. That is a model I see in a number of organizations today that I think is beneficial to LGBT people, whether they are achieving celibacy or not.

CP: In the book, you write "We saw the danger of calling people 'good' or 'whole' or 'healthy' or 'healed' in relation to their sexual narrative" and later "I'd always affirmed someone's right to live the life they wanted and never disputed someone's salvation." Do you believe though that there are some "sexual narratives" that are objectionable?

Chambers: Well, I think that the quote that you read really speaks for itself in that our holiness and our righteousness does not depend on our actions. It depends on our relationship with Christ and there are so many gay and lesbian people that I know, transgendered people, bisexual people, you name it, who have a vibrant relationship with Christ and their sexual narrative doesn't negate their righteousness or holiness. I think that that's something really important for the Church to understand — that someone's relationship with Christ isn't dependent on the things that they do or the behaviors that they're involved in.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/qa-former-exodus-international-president-on-new-book-personal-journey-laws-banning-gay-therapy-for-minors-146380/#5bAeJ6DE37Wk2Hxh.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/qa-former-exodus-international-president-on-new-book-personal-journey-laws-banning-gay-therapy-for-minors-146380/#kIi4VCFhdPcGmQpI.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/qa-former-exodus-international-president-on-new-book-personal-journey-laws-banning-gay-therapy-for-minors-146380/#DKBJf68P22gmkVb3.99

CP: You wrote about the debate within Exodus International decades back on whether or not they should focus on celibacy or change, with the latter winning out. Would Exodus International have done better to focus on celibacy rather than change?

Chambers: I think if Exodus had simply chosen to be an organization that was going to show up for people, that was going to be present in the lives of the people who were making difficult decisions, if Exodus had remained a place that wasn't about promoting change or promoting marriage or saying this is the one narrative that is best, had it simply just been a place of support, comfort, and encouragement, it would have, it could have lasted. That is a model I see in a number of organizations today that I think is beneficial to LGBT people, whether they are achieving celibacy or not.

CP: In the book, you write "We saw the danger of calling people 'good' or 'whole' or 'healthy' or 'healed' in relation to their sexual narrative" and later "I'd always affirmed someone's right to live the life they wanted and never disputed someone's salvation." Do you believe though that there are some "sexual narratives" that are objectionable?

Chambers: Well, I think that the quote that you read really speaks for itself in that our holiness and our righteousness does not depend on our actions. It depends on our relationship with Christ and there are so many gay and lesbian people that I know, transgendered people, bisexual people, you name it, who have a vibrant relationship with Christ and their sexual narrative doesn't negate their righteousness or holiness. I think that that's something really important for the Church to understand — that someone's relationship with Christ isn't dependent on the things that they do or the behaviors that they're involved in.

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/qa-former-exodus-international-president-on-new-book-personal-journey-laws-banning-gay-therapy-for-minors-146380/#5bAeJ6DE37Wk2Hxh.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/qa-former-exodus-international-president-on-new-book-personal-journey-laws-banning-gay-therapy-for-minors-146380/#kIi4VCFhdPcGmQpI.99

Read more at http://www.christianpost.com/news/qa-former-exodus-international-president-on-new-book-personal-journey-laws-banning-gay-therapy-for-minors-146380/#DKBJf68P22gmkVb3.99

CP: You wrote about the debate within Exodus International decades back on whether or not they should focus on celibacy or change, with the latter winning out. Would Exodus International have done better to focus on celibacy rather than change?

Chambers: I think if Exodus had simply chosen to be an organization that was going to show up for people, that was going to be present in the lives of the people who were making difficult decisions, if Exodus had remained a place that wasn't about promoting change or promoting marriage or saying this is the one narrative that is best, had it simply just been a place of support, comfort, and encouragement, it would have, it could have lasted. That is a model I see in a number of organizations today that I think is beneficial to LGBT people, whether they are achieving celibacy or not.

CP: In the book, you write "We saw the danger of calling people 'good' or 'whole' or 'healthy' or 'healed' in relation to their sexual narrative" and later "I'd always affirmed someone's right to live the life they wanted and never disputed someone's salvation." Do you believe though that there are some "sexual narratives" that are objectionable?

Chambers: Well, I think that the quote that you read really speaks for itself in that our holiness and our righteousness does not depend on our actions. It depends on our relationship with Christ and there are so many gay and lesbian people that I know, transgendered people, bisexual people, you name it, who have a vibrant relationship with Christ and their sexual narrative doesn't negate their righteousness or holiness. I think that that's something really important for the Church to understand — that someone's relationship with Christ isn't dependent on the things that they do or the behaviors that they're involved in.

End quote.Those are lies straight from the devil himself. Scripture states:

Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them;

1Jn 1:6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1Jn 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.Mat 15:20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone."1Co 5:9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—1Co 5:10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 1Co 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

1Co 6:9Or do you
not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor homosexuals, 1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor the
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom
of God.11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you
were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our
God.

Jude 1:7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which
likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as
an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

And of course Romans 1: 18-32 which wholly curses homosexuals and homosexuality.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

There is a major effort by the “Billion Souls Network” to “Bring Back The King” by finishing the Great Commission by AD 2100. This Dominionist movement is not only not biblical, it is downright dangerous. (see our White paper on NAR Dominionism to begin your research.) Back in 2012, Buddhist Ken Blanchard (a favorite of evangelical leadership trainers), teamed up with Tony Blair, Bill Hybels, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Craig Groschel, Erwin McManus, and many other Emergent Church founders. You can read more on this hereand watch the very disturbing video....True to the Dominionist movement, the conference promises plenty of experiential supernatural moments and an imparting of empowerment in harmonizing, healing and harvesting souls....Sponsors include International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Assemblies of God U.S.A., FourSquare Church, Global Coaching Network and others.

“The word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” (Isaiah 28:13)

This familiar passage (repeated mostly from Isaiah 28:10 just before it) is often cited in support of a detailed, verse-by-verse method of Bible study and exposition. However, the context is one of rebuke to the people of Ephraim (that is, the Northern Kingdom of Israel) in the days of the divided kingdom.Isaiah especially castigates the priests and prophets who should have been teaching God’s Word to the people, but who had instead become proud and then drunkards, leaving the people in great ignorance and spiritual confusion....

This is exactly right and have said myself, simply because the context tells us what the passage means. It's ironic considering "Precepts Ministry" by Kay Arthur,which is supposed to be about observation and context, violates their own rules for interpretation by ripping it out of context and making the verses supposed to mean we're to learn line by line. It's similar to what people do with the letter of 1 Corinithians, by using it to "teach" speaking in tongues, when the context of the whole letter is a stern rebuke to the wayward Corinthian church. That's also ironic, when you think about it.

Monday, October 05, 2015

"In the day of prosperity be happy--but in the day of adversity CONSIDER: God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of adversity, you should consider from whose hand it has been sent to you! It comes direct from the hand of God!

Intermediate agencies may have been employed in inflicting it: a cherished family member may have been the messenger of disease; a treacherous friend may have been the cause of bankruptcy; an avowed enemy may have been the author of reproach and shame;Satan himself may have been allowed to smite you! But through whatever secondary agency it may have been conveyed--adversity comes from God's hand!

"I form the light--and create darkness; I make peace--and create evil. I the Lord, do all these things." Isaiah 45:7

"Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?" Lamentations 3:38

"Shall we receive good at the hand of God--and shall we not receive evil?" Job 2:10

"Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" Exodus 4:11

"See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have woundedand I will heal, and no one can deliver out of My hand!" Deuteronomy 32:39

"The LORD brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The LORD sendspoverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts." 1 Samuel 2:6-7

"This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all thisgreat calamity on this people . . ." Jeremiah 32:42

"When disaster comes to a city, has not the LORD caused it?" Amos 3:6

"For He wounds, but He also binds up; He injures, but His hands also heal." Job 5:18

From these and many other passages, it is plain that temporal affliction is ascribed to God in the Holy Scriptures. No one who acknowledges God's Providence at all, can fail to believe that the numerous afflictions and calamities of human life are permitted, appointed, and overruled by the Supreme Governor of the world!

This is a consideration of great practical importance, and should be seriously weighed in the day of adversity.

It assures us that our afflictions are neither imposed by a fatal necessity, nor produced by the uncertain vicissitudes of chance--but come forth from the hand of One who is infinitely wise and just and good!

It also teaches us in many of our afflictions, and those which it is indeed most difficult to bear--to look beyond, and to rise above, the consideration of the mere human agency by which they have been inflicted. I refer to such afflictions as are brought on us through the malice of our fellow-men, in regard to which we are too apt to alone consider the secondary agency through which they fall upon us--instead ofsteadily contemplating God as addressing to us, through human agency, the warning sand lessons which we need to learn and improve.

Whereas, did we consider all afflictions, of whatever kind, as emanating from the unerring heart of our loving Father--we would find, that even those which the hand or the tongue of man inflicts--are a wholesome discipline, and means of spiritual improvement.

Let us remember, then, that every affliction, through whatever channel it may flow--comes to us ultimately from God's loving hand!

As one backtracks, one can see John Piper's affinity for Charismaticism decades ago. The fact that he was indoctrinated at Fuller Theological Seminary is also a huge factor, as they are one of the largest pro-Charismatic, mystic, man-centered seminaries in existence. In 1990:Here Piper endorses heretic John Wimber, proponent of the demonic Word of Faith movement a big name on TBN and a faith healer who died of throat cancer:

Last week fifty eight people from Bethlehem went to a conference in Anaheim, California called “Holiness Unto the Lord.” It was sponsored by Vineyard Ministries International. The Vineyard movement, led by John Wimber...The best introduction to the Movement is Power Encounters by Kevin Springer and John Wimber.

I saw at least ten things at this conference that I thank God for and want as part of my life.. Openness to God’s presence today in the form of supernatural demonstrations of power....

I believe God is at work in the Vineyard Movement—as in hundreds of other movements today. Oh, that we may be on the Move with God in Minneapolis!

End quote.

After giving 10 things he thanked God for from Wimber's Word of Faith conference, he only had three "concerning" issues, but all in all, in his mind, Wimber and the WOF is of God.

"Could it be, then, that the picture of the elders in this passage teaches us not that extraordinary spiritual gifts have ceased, but that shepherds are responsible to be zealous for spiritual gifts? "

After saying that Paul and Silas were singing in prison because they were in spiritual warfare (something Scripture doesn't even say), he goes on:

Quote:

Four years ago I was called late one night to come to an apartment where supposedly there was a demon-possessed woman. I called Tom Steller and we went together while our wives prayed at home. What we found was a woman held in a room by some young Christian women who were intent on seeing the demon driven out of this woman. For about two hours I talked to her and read her Scriptures and prayed prayers of deliverance.

She became increasingly violent, knocking the Bible out of my hand and grabbing the prayer sheets and shoving me. At one point, about one in the morning, when the conflict rose to a fever pitch between the Word of God and the satanic force in this woman, someone in the group began to sing. It was one of our familiar worship songs. We sang it again and again and the Lord gave us new words for it each time. The effect on her was dramatic. She began to tremble and threaten us if we didn't stop. Then she threw herself on the floor and screamed for Satan not to leave her. She went into convulsions and then went limp. When she came to, she remembered nothing of what happened and was willing to read Scripture and pray.

End quote.

Did you catch that? Piper is saying that 1) God gave them inspired words to sing (they should then be immortalized in our Bibles after Rev. 22:21) but apparently not a new tune, and implies that 2) Scripture is NOT sufficient to deal with Satan, thinking it was incompetent, contrary to Matt. 4 where Jesus did just that. He did not sing, He quoted the living Word of which He is Author. Paul also says we are to use the weapon of the Word against such attacks. Such a view, that Scripture isn't enough to battle Satan is not part of the Five Solas that Piper claims to believe in, namely "Sola Scriptura".

"Let me tell you about a most wonderful experience I had early Monday morning, March 19, 2007, a little after six o’clock. God actually spoke to me. There is no doubt that it was God. I heard the words in my head just as clearly as when a memory of a conversation passes across your consciousness. The words were in English, but they had about them an absolutely self-authenticating ring of truth. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that God still speaks today."

Piper also advocates the spiritual gifts of 1 Cor. 12 including prophecy. Knowing Piper's penchant for redefining words (not the least of which is "hedonism"), and playing fast and lose with Scripture (he finds "enjoyment" in verses about reading the Word to know Christ--as if those verses support his hedonism, which they don't), given that he was indoctrinated at Fuller Theological Seminary, a bastion of Word of Faith demonic doctrines and practices, given that he's previously endorsed the Charismatic gifts and one of WOF's earliest and biggest teachers, John Wimber (see above), there is no way Piper didn't mean for prophecy to be anything other than the gift of prophecy early in the New Testament churches.
So when Piper joins Word of Faith pastor Christine Cain at the Passion conferences, or endorses Charismatic Matt Chandler (he had a "vision" from God, and has been on TBN three times in the last few years), or endorses Mark Driscoll who is also Charismatic (has had pornographic visions, it's not surprising nor new. This is not an "anomaly" as some have suggested. This is who John Piper is; what he's always held to and experienced.

About Me

My name is Denise. I grew up in the Charismatic movement, but God delivered me out of it, and I thank Him for that. My heart is to show other believers the error of various movements(WOF, NAR, Seeker Friendly, Reformed theology/New Calvinism).I want to help them find truth through Scripture. I love the Word of God and hold it dear to my heart. It is the standard by which I filter everything, including doctrine & politics, including my own thoughts and actions. Ps 138:2
There is One God, and within the One God there are three distinct, co-equal and co-eternal persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit(1Peter 1:2; Matt. 28:19; Matt. 3:16-17; John 14:16-17). Literal 6 day Creation is Truth.Scripture is infallible, inerrant, & God-breathed (2Tim. 3:16, Heb.4:12, Ps. 19 & 119). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone apart from any works (baptism, prayers, walking an aisle, etc.) so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-10). God is totally Sovereign in ALL things (Ps 33). I do mean ALL. Man is responsible for his sin. God is responsible for saving the elect through HIS means.